Seven-times champion feels most at home when made to fight, writes Simon Barnes at Roland Garros

This was a science fiction story, a battle between Space and Time. This was
the French Open and a match between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

Court Philippe Chatrier and the red, red dirt of home pump the breath of life
into Nadal’s lungs. Everybody who tries to play tennis here knows that this
is Rafa’s house. His space.

But this is Novak’s time. His hour, his era. He’s been No 1 in the world for
just short of two years now. He has collected six grand-slam singles titles
and would dearly love this one to complete the set. But